BACK TO ROTATION

Nov 01, 2005

A continuous corn production system will need to boost yields next year to cover increased energy costs compared to a corn-soybean rotation. Kevin Robertson, Purdue University economist, analyzed production costs and found that a grower planting continuous corn needs at least a 225-bu./acre yield to compete with a corn rotation yield of 180 bu./acre. In his analysis, Robertson figured $3/gal. diesel fuel and $0.38/lb. nitrogen costs along with $2.30/bu. corn. As a result, he suggests that growers carefully examine costs and consider shifting from continuous corn to rotation.